MR. POLSON AND FARMERS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 9

MR. POLSON AND FARMERS

HAWKE’S BAY CONFERENCE. RECENT AGITATION RESENTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dannevirke, Last Night. The Southern Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Union to-day had before it a lengthy circular from the North Taranaki executive regarding the Dominion president, stating with reference to the attacks on Mr. Polson that “If this organised agitation is allowed to continue the Farmers’ Union will'be discredited and a large amount of the good work that has put the union in the sound position it is in to-day will have gone for nothing.” Mr. James Livingstone, the local president and a member of the executive, warmly defended Mr. Polson. He eaid Mr. Polson did not belong to any political party and was serving the best interests of the farmers. “There has,” he said, “been an absolute endeavour to discredit him for political propaganda. Mr. Polson is a man who never followed a particular party and always endeavoured to act in accord with the view’s expressed at the Dominion conference. I think it would be a crying shame for the Farmers’ Union to let down their president.” Major McDonnell: “I think the whole thing has been political propaganda organised by certain sections who are trying to burst the union'up through their president. Mr. Livingstone: They are trying to burst up the union and to get a president of straw whom they can lead. Major McDonnell: If a man, because he happens to be in the Farmers’ Union or is the head of ft business, cannot take part in politics his individual freedom is gone. It was decided unanimously by the twenty delegates present that the Southern Hawke’s Bay executive , has continued confidence in the Dominion president.